Craigslist started out 20 years ago as a simple email distribution list, but has since ballooned into something much larger.

"Anything that's out there, there's always going to be the criminal element that tries to prey on other people," Omaha Police Officer James Shade said.

One of the carjackings occurred at 28th and Poppleton on Friday night, and the other was reported at a Walmart near 99th and Military on Saturday night.

Shade said he hopes people will consider central headquarters or a precinct the next time they're trying to sell an old smartphone or miscellaneous item on the Internet.

"We do have officers that are there and there are cameras that are present," Shade said.

Bellevue's Police Department set up an area in their parking lot months ago strictly for this purpose, with two assigned parking spots and cameras focused on the spot.

"If you're planning on meeting somebody to do some type of transaction, this is a great place to do that," said Laurie Synowiecki of the Bellevue Police Department.

Synowiecki said it gets plenty of use and it's easy to figure out why.

"So, if a criminal would have bad intentions, they would likely shy away from a planned meeting here in our parking lot," Synowiecki said.

In addition to OPD central headquarters, its four precincts, and the Bellevue Police Department, the Council Bluffs Police Department's records lobby is also available for Craigslist transactions on weekdays.